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| Which is worse--mandating the wearing of a disposable mask over and over and over, day after day, and improperly to boot-----or allowing this improper wear to "meet" the standard of an ill-conceived, non-enforceable ordinance? (or both?) |
We find ourselves in the midst of a battle of wills over the wearing of masks here locally.
The city went headlong into this issue by "mandating" all citizens wear masks indoors. So did the city of Milton----and then Milton's City Council promptly and resoundingly walked their mandate back. Actually it got yanked back and thrown in the garbage can.
Santa Rosa County has no mandate for mask wearing either.
But Pensacola has a mandate, brought forward by the mayor initially. Then the city council doubled down and made it an ordinance with teeth with financial penalties for citizens that don't wear masks--because the city's ordinance requires citizens to wear masks!
Well, wait a minute. Just most citizens in most places. With some exceptions.
Well, realistically--with a lot of exceptions. For instance, now we are told that students who come back to classes in buildings and schools within the city limits will not be wearing masks. At least they won't be mandated to do it. Apparently, the city's got an exception for that.
And those who attend churches in the city limits don't have to wear masks. There's an exception for that, too.
And outdoors--well, outdoors in socially distanced settings masks are not required. There's an exception for that.
Demonstrators that gather in numbers, not wearing masks and not socially distancing--is there an exception for this? Not sure--but regardless--it's happening, people are congregating and exercising their freedom of assembly and not wearing masks while not socially distancing-- and it is not being enforced. Perhaps there is a tacit "exception" for that, too?
And surely the virus knows these exceptions and will ensure transmission is ceased during periods of time and under these circumstances when the city's ordinance provides exceptions, right?
Sure.
What about at a restaurant in the city? Indoors, the ordinance says wear a mask. But when the food comes--or when the drinks come--everyone at the table can "unmask" to eat and drink--there is an exception for that. So half the people--eating and drinking together in small groups and large groups will be masked, and the other half will be unmasked. Or, should diners and drinkers keep their masks on, and cut holes in their disposable surgical masks that they wear over and over--and put a straw through the hole and drink their beverages, wines, and bottled beverages through the straws whilst keeping the masks in place? That'd be a weird look, like a scene out of the original 1977 Star Wars Cantina Band scene.... Same thing for food. Keep the masks on and pull them to the side, quickly, and spoon feed without spilling it all over the inside of the mask. That could get messy.....And if you cant do this--then take the masks off between bites and gulps. I'm sure the airborne viruses and germs know the difference and politely and obediently do not disburse while citizens in the city limits eat and drink, right? The microbes wait till the masks go back on. Sure thing. You bet.
So yes, technically, there is an ordinance in the city mandating that citizens wear masks. Most of the time. With some exceptions--I mean, LOTS of exceptions. And with little enforcement. And with no standards. Right. Check.
Well what about the masks and how they are worn? Surely there must be standards in the ordinance the city wants us to adopt, right?
Answer: Nah, just have a "face-covering" of any variety. Yeah--just something, anything, just a
"covering." That will help. We think. No requirements, no standards, just a "covering." We think this makes us all "safer."
I find it interesting watching how some folks interpret this ordinance and wear bandanas over their faces that are fully open below the chin and on the sides of their faces--allowing all the air exhaled to go down and out the sides...Does this protect anyone? Does a "bandana" protect the wearer??
Somebody ask a medical expert this please. I'm not a medical expert--but I have a hunch........
Or how about these that I have seen all over the city:
A.) Full-Mask-Non-Maskers: Wearers of masks who pull them down below their noses and mouths and keep them tight around their chins. Talking, interacting, not socially distancing. They are protected, they have their face covering. Are these legal under the city's ordinance--I mean-technically they are "wearing" a mask, right? Or is there an exception for these folks?
B.) Full-Mask, Half Maskers: Wearers of masks who pull them over their mouths but pull them under their noses so they can breath easier-because-shoot, it is difficult to breath through a mask for a long period of time. Is there an exception for this variety of city mask wearer?
See, so the point is this: Some politicians feel the need to "do something" or get pushed to "do something--anything!"--- and they reflexively, obediently implement "rules" that upend citizens' lives. It makes them feel like they are making a difference and doing something. Is it really effective though? Who Cares!! Just Do it! One gets in response to such a rational, reasoned yet rhetorical question.
Just do it! Do it NOW! is the angry response.
And then they put their police in the incredibly difficult position of having to try and interpret such rules while simultaneouslynot being heavy-handed and infringing on citizens' rights. Not to mention the awkward position this puts some folks in......Yes, there are folks that for medical reasons, legitimate medical reasons, cannot wear the masks. So they walk around hoping they are not mask-shamed, bullied, or put on a social-media site and excoriated by the experts on facebook and the press. What about these citizens' rights? But I digress.....
Fast forward to now.
So now, according to the PNJ, the city wants us, in the county, to "adopt" their ordinance and make this a "County-wide" ordinance, complete with all the exceptions, stipulations, enforcement challenges, lack of standards, and other unforeseen implications.....The have an editorial coming out tomorrow on it.
I don't foresee such a request from the city being executed by the full BOCC--but hey, we'll see what happens.
Meanwhile--as I stated clearly in yesterday's press conference--I believe the prudent strategy for the county to pursue is exactly what we are doing currently:
---Encourage the citizens to follow the CDC guidance but by all means to protect themselves
---Encourage folks to take personal responsibility for protecting one's self. Do this by being safe and staying away from large crowds--particularly if you are in a high-risk group.
----Stay at home and self-isolate/self-segregate if medically compromised and vulnerable--until it is safer.
---Encourage folks that cannot socially distance to wear a mask.
---Provide PPE for those in the county that need it/want it.
---Educate folks via a public health campaign, funded by the federal government.
These are what we are doing in the county at present in terms of guidance for our constituents.
Look, I'm a rule following "Boy Scout" type of person. I follow rules, and I will always "follow the rules." When I am in the city limits I'll follow the rules. When I am at work where masks indoors are required, I wear one and have been wearing one for months as necessary to be in full compliance. If the Governor makes it mandatory--I'll do my level-best at compliance. If the President says we ALL have to do it, I'll do my level-best at compliance. I will comply if compelled. No issue there because I "follow the rules."
But I'm just not at a point where I want to go the direction the city has gone just to assuage some sort of "feeling" that we "ought to be doing something." Sometimes, the best course of action as a policy maker is to NOT make another ordinance--particularly one that is 1.)full of more exceptions than a slice of Swiss Cheese and 2.) Unenforceable from a practical standpoint 3.) Not supported as medically solid and prudent as it is applied as a practical matter.
I will NOT ever tell someone they can't wear a mask as a policy.
But--
I do NOT want to make it a criminal offense for a citizen to NOT wear a mask by adopting such a flawed strategy as the city has adopted--for the reasons stated above.
This is my opinion only, just one man's opinion.
We will see what the city sends over Thursday night.......
50 comments:
Part 1.
Dear Commissioner Bergosh,
I’ve been proud to work with you on several important initiatives at the County, and have been grateful for your leadership on so many issues. This has led a few cranks to assume that you and I are lock-step on every issue, which of course couldn’t be further from the truth. We don’t agree on IP; I led the public speaking charge against the pop-up car sale ordinance; I don’t support the massive educational tax grab heading to our ballot. I agreed with you on a solution for a dual designation on the Chappie James Bridge, with a veteran of the Beall family with an impeccable reputation replacing Senator Beall’s name, due to his racist ideologies and legislation. I support neither retaining the monument nor your reasoning for it. I support the firefighters getting a substantial raise in their starting salary, but I am not a fan of some of the fearmongering the union has used in their messaging, and recognize that the financial overspending on nonsense and sometimes corrupt procurement processes in Fire is a problem that needs to be solved before anything else (and is, like so many other things, apparently going unaddressed by Janice Gilley, even though I turned over plenty of documentation on it to her).
When friends and colleagues contact me and say “how can you support Bergosh when he has said this or that,” knowing that I am in strong disagreement, my answer is simple: your leadership on a lot of tough issues has been and will continue to be imperative on the board, and your transparency is unparalleled. The public will have another beach access at Perdido Key because of it. I could have never untangled that mess with how two administrations back-to-back were end-arounding our Merit System Protection Board by refusing to process employee complaints properly—a corrupt, illegal decision that resulted in all-out chaos in our EMS, and failed to act on red flags raised early—without you recognizing there was a huge issue and stepping in to handle it as it should have been handled all along, by the Board. You saw the failure of administration to put a halt to Doug’s meddling and had the integrity and courage to bring a non-interference ordinance that would have stemmed a lot of the worst of what we’re seeing now as a result of the rest of the Board failing to embrace the opportunity you provided them.
I remain a hard and fast supporter of yours for those reasons, and for many reasons requiring your leadership in the future. But on the mask question, while you are dead right in a lot of ways, you are dead wrong in others.
[con.]
Part 2.
As you know, I have been screaming it from the mountain tops to local leaders that the way covid has been handled here was going to result in it running amok in Escambia County. The response, across the board, was that I was off on that opinion, and that it simply wasn’t going to get that bad here. Well, here we are, that isolated berg that wasn’t situated to see the worst of covid is now one of the country’s worst hot spots. Our place on that list will continue to climb.
--I raised the alarm months ago that the reason we weren’t seeing any covid cases yet was that we didn’t have any testing and that the early tests that got sent out by the CDC were defective. The response was that this simply wasn’t true.
--When the County held a presser outside the Public Safety building with *all* our local leadership directed by Laura Coale to huddle up behind Janice at the podium, so you guys were pressed shoulder to shoulder, I said “What the hell are you doing?” (Kevin packed up and left that presser and it was the last time either of us have attended anything on County property.) The unbelievable answer Lanza provided was that people were safe outside in the wind. I explained it was airborne. People told me that was nonsense.
--I communicated early-on that the state was manipulating the data on covid cases. I was told there wasn’t any evidence, despite the evidence I provided…and, as you know, this was *long* before the “dashboard lady” got fired from the state. Now there is ample evidence that the State has indeed been manipulating the data in every way they could come up with from the start.
--At least two months ago, I tried to point out that the DOH was coming up with ways to obfuscate the numbers of covid patients in our hospitals. I was told that the hospital administrators were providing a clear picture. Then of course came the mandates from the governor and his administration that hospitals change their definition of available ICU beds and stop breaking covid patients out in their admissions numbers.
--I expressed my horror at the fact that Dr. Lanza has been misrepresenting the situation and CDC guidelines, and participating in data manipulation, from the beginning. The last time he was at the podium, he lied about CDC guidelines, among other things, in the Florida Sunshine for all to see.
--I had been pounding the drum about the jail and why weren’t we seeing any cases there, which was impossible. I then started to get reports that CO’s had covid and it wasn’t being made known. I was told there was no evidence. When I was about ready to go public with the information, Chief Powell came to the podium and dropped the bombshell that there were a dozen CO’s with covid and the “first inmate.” We all see where that has headed, and I applaud Chief Powell for being honest about it in the face of a County Administrator who is still mandating covid denial best as she can.
--Over and over, I have tried to impress on the board that Janice was conducting an all-out covid cover-up at the County. And that people were not being informed when their coworkers had tested positive, and that Janice wasn’t doing contact tracing. The response was that there was no evidence of that. Now her administration’s cover-up is blatantly apparent for anyone who cares to look. And the attempts are ongoing, still.
--I have tried to put the word out that doctors are floored by the lung damage they are seeing in covid-positive children who seem otherwise asymptomatic. Nonetheless, Malcolm Thomas has mandated that people figure out what to do with their kids this fall by July 20th. (If only that appointed superintendent had happened a term earlier.)
--I emailed information that the morgues are overrun in Nueces County, similar in population to Escambia County, with Corpus Christi of course sharing our situation as a military port town, with lots of traffic between the air station there, NAS, and Whiting. No response.
Part 3.
What you get very right about the mask ordinance in the City is that because of the gross negligence of our federal and state governments to enact the proper measures, yes, ad-hoc attempts by local leadership to try to do whatever they can to have positive impacts against massive pressure from up top have resulted in some disorganized and confusing response. It didn’t have to be this way, and shouldn’t have been. You are witnessing the effects of federal and state government politicizing a pandemic to prop up their failed policies. My heart breaks for local leaders—and families—being visited with the decisions that should have been made upstream. It’s ripping communities and households apart right now in states with governors and administration that are towing the covid-denying line.
For this reason, rather than criticizing some aspects and outcomes of the City mask ordinance, many people applaud the attempts of Grover Robinson and Keith Wilkins to have *any* impact on keeping their staff and their constituency safe during this public health crisis. And one of the biggest problems they have is that they aren’t just trying to forge on with keeping people safe against a tsunami of pressure from DeSantis, but also an absolute—and intentional—fall-down response at the County at the hands of Janice Gilley and her administration. How can the City do anything effectively, knowing that the County will refuse to partner with them and do its part to protect citizens? Some of these half-measures wouldn’t be that way if they had known they could work hand-in-hand with the County. Instead, they have been in this alone, with only Lumon May woke and trying everything he can do to help and protect, with the rest of his board remaining obstinate in the face of this pandemic’s crushing realities.
The federal government took away our ability as a nation to come up with best practices and the most optimal, coordinated response a long time ago. That horse has left the barn. DeSantis’s slavish adherence to Trump’s every whim has made Florida one of the world’s covid epicenters, with his strong-arming of local officials in Escambia County resulting in Pensacola rapidly becoming one of the worst crisis centers in a Gulf Coast that is about to blow up.
[con]
Part 4.
It’s not a question of something working perfectly against this contagion now. Hell, we may have passed the point of anything working at all. Nonetheless we have to *try* to do whatever incremental things we can as a community to spare our hospital workers and front liners, and stem whatever amount of illness and death that we can.
Grover and Keith can’t keep holding their fingers in the dyke without the County’s backing for long. The time has long past that the BOCC (1) recognize the severity of the situation; (2) admit that Janice Gilley is operating a failed administration; and (3) ACT to fulfill their number one obligation, the sacred trust of protecting the health and welfare of its citizenry.
So here is another “prediction” that people can brush aside: if this County doesn’t enact whatever measures it can to stop the spread of this virus, the economic backlash will be horrendous. Far worse than anything we have seen thus far. Businesses that might have stayed open will be forced to shutter. Our hospitals will be overrun. Children, teachers, and staff attending school on premises will become the next, and the most cataclysmic, vector of spread. And Escambia County will plummet into the worst economic and public health crisis it has ever faced.
So I’ll sit back now and wait for all of the covid-deniers to come publish their junk science from their alt-right “research,” we’ll see all the same tired gibberish about nano-particles, and the Qanon culters will come on in the guise of constitution thumping.
Your job as an elected official is to use your vision to see through the crap and do what needs to get done to protect the people who live here. Yes, you might have some angry voters in D1. You will also help our economy and save lives. That’s the choice, as I see it.
Whatever the case, thank you for your continued efforts to keep the public informed, and for your candid assessments made in print and during your coffees. Nobody will ever be able to say that they didn’t know where Jeff Bergosh stood on something. 😊 I just hope you will get across the finish line of understanding what we are really dealing with sooner rather than later.
--Melissa Pino
Mel, it is a constitutional overreach without scientific basis or consistency. This is purely theatrical. If this virus was as virulent and annihilating as purported, we should all be dead by now.
Cmon, Mel. Why AREN’T you questioning this? It’s illogical and unreasonable to mandate mask wearing with so little being known about this virus. No scientific evidence that it can be prevented. No evidence that it kills arbitrarily. Think about it. 99% of people are wearing masks that are ineffective or ineffectively worn. Riots disproved your case. There hasn’t been a massive surge in deaths (which is how we define an epidemic)
This entire event shows us what's wrong with this country and this county. People are not thinking for themselves. Now the people that do are being vilified. When you are a part of the herd, you know you're wrong.
Jimmie, you have no idea how much it breaks my heart that you have just helped me demonstrate my point.
You have--I believe unknowingly--fallen into a cult ideology and lost your way.
I hope you'll come back to us, as I love and miss you. In the meantime, I also hope you'll think twice about liking posts from a local, avowed Qanon cult "leader" (in his own mind) who has sent call-outs to national Qanon boards naming me as an adversary and whipping people into a frenzy with his conspiracy theories. That one resulted in a Qanon parade in front of our house.
While you may be comparatively untouched by this in ruralish Kentucky, Pensacola is skyrocketing and this virus is about to rip through here. Death rates in Florida are climbing now. There is no denying the danger any longer. I dearly hope for you and your family that your town and your home remain relatively isolated from it. That is not our experience here in Pensacola.
--Mel
QAnon is a virus more contagious than Covid and has spread to millions of unsuspecting and ill-prepared victims. Their propaganda is dangerous, so much so, the FBI declared their fringe conspiracy theories a domestic terrorist threat. People are letting this noise drown out their logic. Anyone who thinks it's better not to be prepared for the worst possible outcome of a pandemic because so little is known about it, he/she is going to wake up on the wrong side of history. This pandemic has already killed over a hundred thousand people and over a million others have been infected, in a very short period. Personally, I'd rather be wearing a mask when we find out we overstated the damaging effects of the virus than be wearing a ventillator when we find out it was worse than ever anticipated.
Hear Hear!!
Thank you.
The virus is real. Wear a mask. It can't be enforced by the American government. Natural selection is upon us and you cant change someone's mind if they are in denial.
Best thing is to try to stay out of everyone's way.
Anonymous 5:05, there is some truth in what you say. But I feel it's important to add to it.
"Natural selection" isn't the end of the story.
CAREGIVERS AND HOSPITAL WORKERS have no choice but to throw themselves into the cauldron and fight a battle in which our policy makers--including hospital administrators--have, through their negligence and greed, set them up for failure and risk.
EMS and FIRE have no choice but to run themselves ragged with increased risk of infecting themselves and their families. They can choose to abandon their calling and forego a paycheck or continue on in the struggle, with dwindling resources and burgeoning infection due to our policy makers failing to protect them. Those who have the means to quarantine from their families right now are. Most don't have the means.
DELIVERY PEOPLE have no choice but to continue to trudge on, handling packages in unsterile environments and confronting people on a daily basis who are insistent on approaching them. In Navy Point there has been a shocking turnover in drivers. It started with USPS first, but now we have different UPS and FedEx drivers every time, it seems. They aren't trained now. USPS was never trained properly--and our USPS carriers are some of the sweetest people, who just couldn't understand why we would want to protect ourselves and them by having them place packages by the end of the drive rather than coming up onto the stoop. FedEx was sorta trained. UPS was really trained. But apparently they are all having to bring people on quickly enough now that there isn't the time. And the new drivers are clueless. Sweet, helpful, happy--and clueless.
EXTERMINATORS have no choice but be forced into natural selection, unless they don't want a a job.
Pipes will continue to break. Electrical will continue to short out and necessitate work. PLUMBERS AND ELECTRICIANS do not have the choice but to participate in natural selection, or go broke. Nor do the HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS who have no choice but to allow them into their homes.
ELDERLY PEOPLE? Who cares, right? Let the oldies die. Natural selection.
PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS? Well, that's the breaks, really. Natural selection.
BUT MOST OF ALL: BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY EFFECTED NOT JUST BY DEMOGRAPHIC BUT BY GENETIC DIFFERENCES IN LUNG RECEPTORS THAT MORE READILY ACCEPT COVID.
PRISONERS? Shouldn't have been in prison to begin with. Natural selection.
CO'S AND JAIL STAFF: um, oh crap, now it's getting complicated.
CHILD STUDENTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL STAFF, BUS DRIVERS, AND CROSSING GUARDS:
Ah, now there lies the rub. Natural selection?
--Melissa Pino
Do you realize how many small businesses the county’s lack of inaction/ feeble attempt to minimize, is causing harm to? You are a prime example as to why so many small businesses are going under. They’re scared to implement their own mask policy due to fear of being boycotted. Yet their employees are getting sick & they can’t stay fully staffed to keep their doors open for YOU & the rest of the science deniers crowd.
Those of you that are part of the “you can’t make me, if you don’t like it stay home” crowd, are actually pushing us into another shutdown, & pushing businesses to go under. Yet you’re too narrow minded, or ignorant, to even see the the domino effect this mentality is creating!
There have been clinical studies showing even cloth masks with several layers of cotton helps block droplet & aerosol contamination, which helps reduce transmission.
But by all means, continue to minimize & do absolutely nothing to help those that voted for you, & us small business owners that are going under, due to conspiracy minded individuals that drown out those that are scared to speak up!
The conspiracy minded, QAnon anti mask protesting group in our town that you’re giving into, that have stated they have derogatory information they’re going to use to ensure you’re not re elected. Is that who you’re placating to that’s creating this stance you’ve taken?
By taking extra precautions to minimize more spread, we are trying to prevent real government overreach, which would be another shutdown, not to mention saving lives.
I am so very sorry I left off COPS.
Our police officers don't have a choice.
Natural selection?
So it's just cool to let our deputies "naturally select"?
The city residents have a higher percentage of positive results than do the residents in the unincorporated part of the county. This even though the city has been more 'aggressive' in their response to a virus, i.e. shutting down tennis courts, taking down neighborhood basketball hoops, and masks. The city needs to stay in their lane.
Enacting another law that forces everyone to wear a mask is not the answer. The current city ordinance has more holes in it than a slice of Swiss cheese and is unenforceable with stipulations, exceptions, and carve-outs that make it all but ineffective. And it is NOT being enforced because it is impossible to do so. Look-I will wear a mask if it is mandated and where it is mandated because I follow the rules and I always have. I do it now already. I have been talking to experts and subject matter specialists since this pandemic first hit our area. And the same health industry and government health bureaucrats that looked me straight in the face in late March and said "We do not recommend mask wearing for those who are not sick--it offers very little protection and masks should only be worn by those that are sick" have now, suddenly, done an about face and turned their collective backs on decades of established practice amassed in fighting other infectious respiratory diseases and evolved into the stance that "everyone should wear a mask." How did that change so quickly--and if the mask wearing was so damned effective---why have they ALLOWED millions of people worldwide over the last 40 years to die of influenza and other respiratory illnesses by NOT mandating mask wearing sooner? Does that make sense to any of you? Think! This messaging (wear a mask, don't wear a mask, mask wearing is mandatory, masks don't protect the healthy) by the medical industrial complex has been devastating to the public trust. Now, we hear they were saying don't wear masks in April so that citizens would not go and stock up on the truly effective N-95 masks. Now, there are no N-95 masks available to citizens. Manipulation and mixed messaging have lead to widespread mistrust and skepticism-----not surprisingly. No, the solution if we are truly interested in locking this thing down and preventing death is for those most vulnerable to take responsibility for themselves and self-isolate/self-segregate until we have better therapeutics, treatments, and a vaccine. The solution is not for big government to mandate EVERYONE wear a mask under threat of penalties------particularly if such mandates are full of so many exceptions, exclusions, stipulations, and carve-outs that the exceptions actually negate the intent of the rule. No, the government is not the answer, common sense and personal responsibility and intelligence are the answers.
I truly hope that you don't come to regret this way of thinking, Commissioner Bergosh. From where I sit, it's looks like spitting into the wind, quite literally. Time will tell.
It's disappointing that you have backed off your clear articulation of your support for CDC guidelines that thankfully closed out Gilley's last-minute garbage presser on Friday morning.
So, since you don't consider mandatory masking part of the solution set, and apparently don't even think that individual choice to mask in public will help, then what's going to be the County plan for the growing death rate in Florida--more of the same?
"Florida sets grim coronavirus record with nearly 500 deaths in one week"
"Florida set a weekly record of nearly 500 coronavirus-related deaths, a roughly 16 percent increase from the last highest weekly mortality rate reported in May."
https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-grim-coronavirus-record-nearly-500-deaths-one-week
Help me to understand what your position is. I'm hearing the following; correct me if I'm wrong.
(1) Escambia County has already done enough to protect its staff and citizens;
(2) Florida residents are responsible for their own actions, and any public health problems that arise as a result are not the responsibility of our elected officials; and
(3) Either (a) We should rest content with the one-a-day Escambia death rate and assume it won't go up; or (b) From this point on we just let it fall where it may.
-Melissa Pino
Melissa-- It is simple--look at the last meeting and the unanimous 5-0 vote of commissioners supporting CDC guidelines, mask distribution to citizens that want them, a public awareness campaign, and the continuation of the practices of social distancing, hand-washing, and staying at home when ill. What we did not vote to do---as I did not perceive 3 votes in support--- was to copy the city's fatally-flawed, unenforceable and full of exceptions mandatory masking policy that is ineffective. Folks in the high-risk groups have to decide the level of risk they accept/don't accept-----and self-isolate until we have better therapeutics, treatments, and potentially a vaccine.
Thank you for your reply. Whether I agree or not, I remain grateful that we can count on you answering and speaking your mind.
What I'm hearing is that the BOCC has done enough to effectively stem the escalation of hospitalizations and the death rate in Escambia County. I dearly hope you're right.
In addition, your statement seems to indicate that it's only the at-risk population that needs to be concerned about spread. Healthcare workers and scientists disagree.
However, even if that was the case, I'd just like to leave it on this thought: beyond the nebulous definition of "older adults," our at-risk population--whom the CDC directs "are" or "might be" at higher risk--are the following in Escambia County (as everywhere):
--Body mass index of 30 or higher (the medical definition of obesity)
--Sickle cell disease
--Diabetics
--Even moderate asthma
--Any neurological condition
--People with high blood pressure
--Pregnant women
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-increased-risk.html
Pretty impossible for all of these groups to just stay home in order to avoid participating in the spread and risk becoming ill themselves.
Over and out on this topic here. Again, thank you for your willingness to back-and-forth.
Melissa Pino
True post, much good .okay.. Here brazil too ..
Thank you Mr. Bergosh for your common sense. I'm with you all the way on this one. The science is questionable and your point on the influenza virus is exactly right. Deaths are less than 1%. I've heard .5 and as low as .2%. I have had a few conversations with people in the medical field and the people I have talked to do not really believe the masks help much.It's been stated by the SME's in virology that the only way the virus will disappear is for a large percentage of the population to be exposed to it.I understand slowing it down to prevent overwhelming the health care system. Also, if people want to take a vaccination that hasn't went thru the normal safety protocols go for it. Me and my family will wait. Thanks again. WW
I must say that I largely agree with Melissa Pino on this issue, and wholly agree with David Bear (Jr.?). Government at all levels outside Pensacola has failed to lead an effective process for protecting us from Covid 19. The United States and Florida in particular are afire with it, and relief is nowhere in sight. There is no guarantee that this virus will not kill the young and healthy, as we have seen locally in Santa Rosa County. One medical staff member in the news said when they x-ray even the asymptomatic, they see lung damage that may affect them for the rest of their lives. The healthy, and of course the vulnerable, will have to do all they can to protect themselves - because government has checked out.
Dear Commissioner,
Our service members are required to wear masks on military installations. Surely we as a community can do the same. Not only would it show respect for the military’s leadership in this public health crisis, but it would also support small business owners and their employees.
Social distancing is not an effective tool as airborne microdroplet transmission was confirmed last week. The 6 feet rule does not protect us.
Asking members of the high risk population to stay at home isn’t an effective strategy. People need to work.
Please also consider the long term consequences to our economy. We don’t know much about this virus but we are already seeing otherwise healthy adults having challenges recovering from mild cases of Covid. What does this mean for our workforce down the road?
Please support a temporary mandate for indoor mask wearing.
Thank you.
Mr. Bergosh, The fact that you are actually debating the effectiveness of masks in your blog post, has done nothing more cause complete disregard for the County’s “mask up” campaign.
The old adage “lead by example”, is dead here. The BOCC’s poor leadership has done irreparable damage & created mass distrust. To the point, that I’m afraid those of you that are up for re-election, will soon need to figure out a new career path.
Theresa, I want to publicly thank you for your integrity in backing me publicly on my thoughts here.
Seeing your comment, I recognize you are a person who doesn't care about what has come before with political rancor, but is instead focused on saving our community from as much illness and death as we can. I have deep and lasting respect for your response.
Per the people who really understand County politics, there has always been a segment who has thought I am "bought" or offers blanket apologies for every action the board takes. That is simply not true.
Since this thing hit, my polestar has been this: how do we spare illness and lives, and how can we keep our economy open so it doesn't collapse completely?
I also need to say this. I disagree with Jeff adamantly that the County has done enough. But let's not make him the boogeyman when Steven Barry, Robert Bender, and Doug Underhill have also been content to sit back and do nothing while Janice Gilley enacted a covid denying response for the County. Only Lumon has been out there trying to make a difference. He had testing in poor neighborhoods in Escambia far before many major cities did. That's huge.
So Jeff is stating his opinions publicly. I don't agree with them. But where are Steven and Robert? Heads in the sand.
People think that Jeff and I are lock step. That has never been the case. But he has *always* been the commissioner, in my experience, that will come around. And once he has come around, he will fight for what's right. You may think that he came around on the master plan for OLF8 because he had to. Well, I'm here to tell you, he didn't have to do a lot of the things he has pushed while he has gotten blasted from the press but kept on because it was the right thing to do. Some day you and I should talk about what he enacted to protect County staff from their due process getting violated. It got no press. I would love to have a phone call with you on that.
We're about to get visited by something that most people in this community are completely unprepared for. You see it. I would like to talk with you about it. Thank you for your voice on it.
-Melissa Pino
hey look Mel..some one is listening
In fact ..WOW I never thought "anonymous" would see it, Ms Blackwell and Ms Pino you have more in common than you would ever know.. You are from the left side of the spectrum and yes, if people disagree ..they show just F..O..A..D.. lol
Life is good, I had almost given up..on local politics.
Will wonders never cease.
Anonymous 1:19, Theresa didn't require any guidance from me on covid response. She has been posting on it in other places all along, and mostly not getting anywhere with it--a familiar feeling.
She was also been one of the few people early on to wear a mask in that Covid Grand Central chambers downtown when she was there to speak on an issue she was passionate about. I thought at the time, "Wow, that took courage." Because she obviously got how dangerous it was, and went anyway. You couldn't pay me to enter a County building right now. Think how sad that is for the staff who are forced to work there.
I respect and am grateful for Teresa's response not because she needed any schooling from anyone on this issue, but because clear-headed people in our community have got to come together and make smart choices against a common, and deadly, enemy.
Anonymous 1:33, I doubt many people speaking to retain the sector plan considered me all that "liberal" as I was calling it out as a governmental land grab and urging them to vote for property rights. And I so long for the day that I'm dragging through my first cup of coffee saying "Man how I hate these morning planning meetings" again.
Sadly, we are moving further and further away from any sense of normalcy every day now in Escambia County. We're going in the wrong direction, fast.
And Kim is right--we desperately need our leaders to lead. It sickens me to watch meetings from home now and wonder how many people in the room and on the dais are asymptomatic carriers, spreading it among themselves and taking it out into the community.
The people who live and work here deserve much bigger changes and action that what we have gotten so far from the County.
Anonymous 1:19, Theresa didn't require any guidance from me on covid response. She has been posting on it in other places all along, and mostly not getting anywhere with it--a familiar feeling.
She has also been one of the few people early on to wear a mask in that Covid Grand Central chambers downtown when she was there to speak on an issue she was passionate about. I thought at the time, "Wow, that took courage." Because she obviously got how dangerous it was, and went anyway. You couldn't pay me to enter a County building right now. Think how sad that is for the staff who are forced to work there.
I respect and am grateful for Teresa's response not because she needed any schooling from anyone on this issue, but because clear-headed people in our community have got to come together and make smart choices against a common, and deadly, enemy.
Anonymous 1:33, I doubt many people speaking to retain the sector plan considered me all that "liberal" as I was calling it out as a governmental land grab and urging them to vote for property rights. And I so long for the day that I'm dragging through my first cup of coffee saying "Man how I hate these morning planning meetings" again.
Sadly, we are moving further and further away from any sense of normalcy every day now in Escambia County. We're going in the wrong direction, fast.
And Kim is right--we desperately need our leaders to lead. It sickens me to watch meetings from home now and wonder how many people in the room and on the dais are asymptomatic carriers, spreading it among themselves and taking it out into the community.
The people who live and work here deserve much bigger changes and action that what we have gotten so far from the County.
Just an observation; I thought I would shop in the City because of the Mask ordinance. Well, compliance was not very impressive to say the least. I just finished shopping in my local grocery store, which is in the County, and the ratio of folks wearing face coverings was much higher than the same store in the City? No, I did not count masks, but the difference was obvious. A rule is not a rule if its not enforceable. Personally, I wish everyone would wear face coverings in public areas and in stores, etc. Politics infects everything worse than the virus, it seems. Limiting the mutual transmission of our own aerosols is just common sense and not too much to ask to prevent the inevitable loss of greater freedoms if our society gets overrun with cases of infections. I'm glad to see a vast majority of folks are on board with that by their own choice, even without having government attempting to enforce another rule or law on us.
Thank you Jeff! I'm so glad I moved out of PensaCorona where I have leaders like you with a spine, and a brain.
This virus has done exactly what the liberal media has wanted, put fear in most. I believe the virus is real, I’m just not swallowing all that is put out there as fact. If you read much at all you know all deaths are obviously from COVID, whether they are or not. Paid more if it is classified as COVID. We have had several pandemics in the past, has the world ever shut down the economy over them? People need to back to work providing for their families, government cannot keep on supporting everyone. That train of thought is socialism. Use common sense here. I for one refuse to live in fear. No masks.
Maybe posting at 1:30 in the morning is not the best post.
It is exhausting making sense of everything right now. I also wear a masks always and also know I see things from my own POV. I guess if one looks on Political group there will be conflicts. Some have children to deal with and loss of income and jobs.
It looks like they don't want to mandate something they can't enforce by law and hope people are smart and thoughtful enough to do the right thing.
The more I look the more I am amazed people can look at the same things and see it so differently.
Most people just get a side and stand their ground and don't take the time to articulate. very well.
So much chance to communicate but we just spoil it.
I'm leaning towards silent and vote and hope for the best. yet respect the process, I hate mob rule as a whole, and lawsuits etc.
The Crone has lived some life and you just can not change some people's mind. Perhaps we aren't meant to. IDK.
I don't like the way people seem to try to destroy and embarrass ones they disagree with rather than embrace and celebrate the differences, but I'm the first to pull out of the fray and watch. Can't stand the conflict.
Be well.
Peace
"Thank you for wearing a mask"
"It helps people get on with their lives and businesses"
"It helps the economy"
"We appreciate people who wear masks in public"
I agree with Melissa Pino. She makes an incredibly articulate argument on this point, particularly that it is the failed national leadership which has put local governments in this predicament. Please look around the country and world to see what is and isn’t working with containing the outbreak.
It is pretty abundantly clear that the areas of the world who have instituted mask wearing policies have fared much better. What is also clear is that the later you start this, the worse it gets. All of the data is lagging reality. Today’s case numbers represent someone who was infected several days or weeks ago. WAKE UP! Do you want Florida to look like Italy in a few weeks? That is where we are headed. There is nothing special about Florida that saves it from a virus that has ravaged other areas of the world. Think about that for a second.
I’ll make one final point. Has it occurred to you that there are significant ancillary benefits to a mask wearing policy? Right now the prevailing attitude from the citizens in this county is “who cares”. Nobody is thinking about the virus and nobody is making any kind of effort to socially distance. This is in stark contrast to other parts of the country who have already been hit by the virus and those who have made policies enforcing mask wearing. Please figure this out before it is too late. Watching this government drag its feet on the mask wearing issue is like being in a slow motion car crash. Forget the politics and do the right thing to save lives. Covid is real and cases here are skyrocketing. Its time to face reality
Have you lost your mind?
I hope you don’t agree with their crazy cult accusations as well!
The crazy’s left Facebook to come and comment on blogs!
You are now part of the “cult” per Melissa below! She just proved your point that people who don’t agree are being vilified! It’s perfectly clear!
“QAnon anti masking protesting group” Have you lost your mind as well?
Why do you accuse everyone of being in a cult, who disagrees with you? Will you now accuse Commissioner Jeff Bergosh of being in a cult?
Q what? Have you lost your mind to?
Mr Bergosh, Thank you for respecting freedom and liberty! Thank you for standing up for all citizens of Escambia County! There are a lot of lies and unfounded accusations being thrown around this Blog post in the comments. There is no truth to any of the accusations that have been made against me, why do we continue to allow Mr Bear and his friends to lie about citizens of Escambia County to try and silence their voices? Their is a Clear pattern of behavior when anyone disagrees with this group, personal attacks, accusations and attempts to intimidate others into silence. This should not be allowed to continue, we all deserve an equal voice without being vilified for it.
Sincerely,
Alex Arduini
Alex, I’m confused (not confused by your improper use of their). I mentioned the cult, QAnon, of which you claimed to not be a member, and you’re accusing me of making up lies about you? Is this an attempt to mislead people? Please point out any lie I have made. If you can’t or claim others may do their own research, I’m calling you out for disinformation. I have all the evidence I need to substantiate every claim I put in writing. Your accusations are so transparent an attempt to silence others. I would never try to silence you. I actually hope you continue to speak. I rather enjoy it. In case you’re unaware, I’m actually suing Commissioner Underhill for violating my 1st Amendment Rights because it’s important not to let government abuse the citizens. I guess you support that? As one of God’s Chosen People, God is with me. If God is with me, how can anyone be against me?
What's a Q parade?
All these anomymous comment are confusing, It's like they are wearing a mask.
Anonymous 4:31, a pathetic Q parade is when someone like Alex Arduini dog whistles his fellow Qanoners, both local and national, to alert them that you are the enemy. After he has posted a selfie in front of your properties so people can see exactly where you live. (As if anyone in Escambia who really wanted to know couldn't just check the minutes of meetings--but Alex knows he's playing to dim bulbs.)
After the dog whistle goes out, an old beat up pickup truck with the tranny on its last leg and the bottom falling out leads a couple of equally beat cars to troll your house in slow motion, honking their horns and proudly displaying Trump and Q Militia flags.
The documentation has been turned over to ECSO. They haven't done anything illegal so far, but both the Sheriff's Department and the PPD are aware and tracking to make sure that there aren't any wannabes here who might end up like the shooter in the Texas Walmart or the California festival, where kids were killed. Both tragedies fueled by Qanon delusion.
Alex, why do you come on Jeff's site praising him, when you are over on ECW, Escambia Public Forum, and Escambia County Politics & Issues blasting him at every turn, and, even worse, trying to smear his wife's name for the wonderful work she is doing with the narcan clinic? Seems like narcissistic delusion about pretend boundaries, but dunno. I'm not a licensed clinician. It's just a thought.
Here's another sealion bark: Alex, have you ever had any use for a narcan clinic?
I would have no idea, but I have loved ones who have, as do a lot of families. That clinic's work is crucial, and, if anything, they should receive more funding. Every agency providing health care to at-risk populations in the community right now should receive more funding.
Nobody is fooled by this game you're running, lapdog. Please do keep posting away, though. Particularly here, since you don't have an administrator/moderator team to pet and fawn over you.
True Alex showed up on f/b and is telling everybody to vote for waters, owens and lutimothy, silent watchers know he's a lapdog and on a lot of sites. Q is also a weird site. Newsflash.. We see you.
I think I see new incarnations on other facebook pages though ;)That hate underhill and owens and trump and desantis
Don't put everybody in a box.
Still believe in Rule of Law not Mob rule.
Also libertarians not wearing masks look like idiots to me..in fact most people are stupid.
signed grumpy
yes Alex said on one public site he had info to take you down (paraphrased) then comes over here kissing up. Seems like a two faced little rat.
A moment in history, a first for everything!
Probably the Trump boat parade! LOL
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